Draft-gear



J. F. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 8. 1917.

Patented Oct. 21, 191%).

2 SHEETS-SHEETI I |"5 |N I l 1 ,3 l 9,2 l O Wnesses:

J. F. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8. 19|?. 1,319,210. Patented 001. 21,1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fiyi fi ,5 f

25. I 9 Jl? Ffzees'ses: In or.' -M @WA J7.

, UNITED sTaTEs :PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. COURSON, OF PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

To all whom t may concern:

13e it known that I, JOHN F.a CoURsON, citizen of the United States, residing at A Pitcairn, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented Acecrtain new and useful Improvements in Draft- Gears, of which the following is a specification. 1 A

My invention is an improvement in draft gears of the class utilizing springs and bearing shoes therefor, and actuating mechanism for the 'bearing shoes opera'ble on bufing or pulling to effect frictional and' spring resistance to such strains through the mechanism inclosed within an embracing casing or frame.

The particular objects in View are to provide, in a gear of this type, means for laterallyv displacing oppositely disposed bearing members whereby to effect bending and also independent frictional movement of al series of assembled leaf springs with variablepressure proportional to the strain, utilizing the drawbar to .impart initial or prelimlnary movement to the actuating elements which engage the springs and also engage co-acting wedge' members with accompanying frictional resistance, whereby to effect an increase or reduction in resistance coincidental with pressure and release movements. The construction is also adapted to impart either bufliing or pulling strains to the car underframe, through the cushioning or resistance mechanism.

These several objects are accomplished in certain preferred forms of the apparatus, as more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showin a complete gear as assembled, indicated y the section llne I, I,

of Fig. 2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

l Application filed October 8, 1917. Serial No. 195,233.

Fig. 7 is a similar View of one of the springs detached.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in position assumed due to pulling strains. v

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in normal position, but illustrating the use of a series of tapered spring plates.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified construction and arrangement of parts in which the resistance shoes are movably connected with the drawbar and the spring deflecting wedges are maintained longitudinally stationary.

In the drawings, 2 represents the drawbar of a coupling connected with the front extended strap portions 3, 3, of the movable casing or frame 4 by transverse rivets or bolts 5. Frame 4 as shown is composed of an upper and a lower portion, each connected with the drawbar by said lbolts and also connected at the rear end by one or more bolts 6, whereby to maintain it in rigid boX- like form. Each' member of the frame is provided at its end portions with inwardly extending abutments 7 and 8, respectively, which maintain the intervening spacing and provide for the housing of the several parts, and for end engagement with the spring deyfiecting wedges hereinafter described.

Side portions 9, 9, of the upper and lower members of casing 4 project inwardly toward each other, and abut in the same way. These side portions embrace the longitudinal resistance shoe members 10 which abut by their ends against Stops 11, 1l, of the center sills 12, to which they are riveted, as shown, and which provide positive engagement with the underframe of the car and resistance against either buiing Aor pulling strains. Resistance shoes 10 also act to transmit pulling or pushing strains from the gear to the main car underframe, when the parts are in tension, as in Fig. 8.

The sides 9 of the frame 4 extend between the resistance shoes 10 and the inner faces of the center sills, as clearly shown, with l sufficient clearance to provide ordinarily for longitudinal movement, but the confronting faces, 'L'. e., the outer faces of the resistance shoes and the inner faces of. the frame sides, are corrugated as indicated at 13, so that when these parts are brought into tight frictional enga-gement, the frictional surface is thus increased.

Extending inwardly from opposite sides from each resistance shoe 10, are the wedge members 14 having series of wedge faces 15 preferably alternating throughout their length, and adapted to intert with corresponding wedge faces 16 of the springdeflecting wedges 17. These latter are mounted b tween the'end abutments 7 and 8 of the main casing, whereby to be moved longitudinally thereby in either direction, and are provided on their inner faces e h with an undulating or wave-like conto rv` 18, of male and female formation, whereby to correspond with each other and provide between them an alternating or compound curved space. A series of leaf springs 19 are mounted between the wedges 17, each spring being alternately connected at one end and the other to a dowel pin 20 by a perforating hole 21, acorresponding hole 22 at the other end of the leaf spring being slotted to provide for pulling clearance of the other pin. Dowel pins 2O extend from one of the wedges 17 into a receiving hole 23 in the )other wedge member, whereby to provide for connected movement of the two wedge members together. cured to the lower edges of the center sills supports the gear in place. The series of leaf springs are assembled as shown in Fig.

2 and are substantially straight when the gear is in normal posltion, and it will be l understood of course that a single spring may be used, if desired.

Upon the exertion of either buiing or pulling strains, longitudinal movement is imparted to the-frame which moves in one direction or the other with relation to the relatively stationary resistance shoes 10. By this means the wedge portions 14 of the shoes, by their faces 15, cause the spring defiecting wedges 17 to move inwardly, one toward the other, as indicated in Fig. 8, thereby compressing and deflecting the series of leaf springs and with a resulting high spring reslstance.

' resistance.

At the same time the alternating springs, because of their alternate connection with the pins, effect rubbing movement of the springs in opposite directions throughout the series thereby creating a high frictional Frictional resistance is -also simultaneously generated between the wedgeA faces of the resistance shoes and the deflecting wedges and between the corrugated faces of the resistance shoes and the main frame, respectively, so that in the aggregate there is a very high frictional and spring resistance generated dependent 'upon and proportional to the extent of movement of A plate 24 setheir free connection with the oppositely located pin 20B. By this means, longitudinal movement of the spring members will also generate an increased resistance due to the wedging taper of the springs, in proportion to their subjection to the exerted strains. The other parts of the gear operate in the manner already described, and are similarly numbered with the exponent a.

In Fig. 10, I have shown a modified construction and arrangement of the parts in which the frame members 4b are stationarily mounted between the stops l1b of the center sills 12", and the resistance shoes 14E- are themselves relatively movable and connected with the drawbar 2b by straps 3*? and key 5*. The spring-deflecting wedges 17b are maintained stationary by the inclosing frame, abutting against the end portions 7 b and 8*. thereof, which portions are each connected rigidly together 'by bolts 6b at each end. The springs 19b are mounted as in the other forms between these endl members 7b and 8b and between the spring deflecting wedges 17", and the undulating inner faces thereof, which, however, are not shown as provided with dowel pins.

The construction and operation of the gear will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description by all those familiar with this class of mechanism. The spring members, by their construction, lying side by side in closely assembled arrangement, provide for both -frictional and bending resistance, which increases rapidly in proportion to the increase of strains of service. The construction provides a considerable area of frictional contact throughout the Various faces and within a comparatively compact and limited space. .VThe construction is simple and easy to install or repair and is capable of giving high resistance and easy absorption to the strains due to coupling and pulling in train service.

What I claim is 1. A draft gear consistin of a casing, a longitudinally disposed lea spring therein, xed abutment members forthe spring ter minals, spring-deiecting members engaging the spring at opposite sides, and means for exerting closing pressure on the springdeflecting members, adapted for mounting in la car underframe and having attaching portions for connection with a drawbar whereby to transmit drawbar movement thereto to efect displacement of the co-acting .parts under buing or pulling strains.

2. A draft gear consisting of a casing, a series of longitudinally disposed4 interleaved springs therein, fixed abutmentv members for the spring terminals, spring-deflecting members engaging the springs at opposite sides, and means for exerting closing pressure on the spring-deflecting members, adapted for lso mounting in a car underframe and lhaving attaching portions for connection with a drawfbar wherebi7 to transmit drawbar movement thereto to effect displacement of the co-acting parts under buing or pulling strains.

3. A draft gear consisting of a casing, a series of longitudinally disposed interleaved springs therein, fixed abutment members for the spring terminals, spring-defiecting wedges engaging the springs at opposite sides, and resistance shoes therefor, adapted for mounting in a car underframe and having attaching .portions for connectionv withl a drawbar whereby to transmit drawbar movement thereto to effect displacement of the co-acting parts under buing or pulling strains.

t. A draft gearconsisting of a casing, a seriesof longitudinally disposed interleaved springs therein, fixed abutment members for the spring terminals, deflecting wedges having undulating faces engaging the springs at opposite sides, and resistance shoes therefor, adapted for mounting in a car underfraane and having attaching portions for connection with a drawbar whereby to transmit drawbar movement thereto to eii'ect displacement of the co-acting parts upon buii'- ing or pulling strains.

5,.. A draft gear consisting of a casing, a series of longitudinally disposed interleaved springs therein, Xed abutment members for the spring terminals, deiecting wedges having undulating faces engagingithesprings at opposite sides, and resistance shoes therefor having co-acting wedge faces, adapted for mounting in a car underframe and having attaching portions for connection with a drawbar whereby to transmit drawbar movement thereto to effect displacement of the co-acting parts upon bufling or pulling strains.

6. A draft gear consisting of a casing, limiting abutments therefor, resistance shoes in sliding ing and having inwardly disposed wedge faces, spring deiecting wedges having coacting wedge faces and alternating projecting and receding spring engagingfaces, a spring memlber located between said wedges,' and iXed albutment members for the spring terminals, adapted for mounting in a car underframe and provided with means for' connection with a drawbar whereby to transmit drawibar movement thereto to effect displacement of the co-acting parts upon buffing or pulling strains.

7 A draft gear consisting of a casing, limiting abutments therefor, resistance shoes in sliding .frictional engagement with the casing and having inwardly ldisposed wedge faces, spring-deflecting wedges having 4co-v acting wedge faces and spring engaging faces,

a series of interleaved spring members frictional engagement with the casvlocated between said wedges 'and having alternating connection therewith at one end of l'each spring member, adapted for mounting in a car underframe and provided with means for connection with a drawlbar where- V by to effect displacement of the co-acting parts upon buffing or pulling strains.

8. In combination with car framing having limiting stops, a casing adapted to impart movement to the underframe through said stops, a pair of resistance shoes engaging the casing and having inwardly disposed wedge faces, a pair of co-acting spring-deflecting wedges having opposed undulating faces and engaging the casing'by their opposite ends, an intervening sprlng member, fixed albutment members for the spring terminals and means adapted to connect certain of said parts with a drawbar whereby to transmit drawbar movement thereto to effect displacement of the co-acting parts upon buflingor pulling strains.

9. In combination withl a car framing having limiting stops, a pair of resistance shoes engaging the limiting stops and having inwardly disposed wedge faces, a pair of co-acting spring-deflecting wedges hav- -having limiting stops, a pair of resistance shoes engaging the limiting stops and having inwardly disposed wedge faces, a pair of co-acting spring-deflecting wedges having opposed alternating curvedfaces, an interposed spring mem-ber, and an open-ended casing inclosing said parts having frictional engagement with the resistance shoes and means for connection with a drawbar, and adapted to abut toward one or the other of said stops by its opposite edges.

11. In combination with a car framing having-limiting stops, a pair of resistance shoes engaging the limiting stops and having inwardly disposed wedge faces, a pair of coacting spring-deiecting wedges having opposed curved faces, an interposed spring member, and a casing inclosing said parts having frictional engagement with the resistance shoes and end engagement with the spring member and provided with drawbar connecting portions. 12. In combination, aseriesof interleaved spring plates, a pair of spring-deflecting wedges engaging opposite sides of the spring plate series, a pair 4of resistance shoes having wedge faces engaging the spring-deflecting wedges and provided with bearing terminals, and a caslng in sliding4 engagement therewith having end engagement with the springs. and side engagement with the deflecting wedges and provided with drawbar connecting portions.

13. In combination, a series of interleaved spring plates, 'a pair of spring-deflecting wedges engaging opposite sides of the spring plate series and provided with pins.

engaging alternate spring plates at opposite ends, a pair of resistance shoes having wedge faces engaging the spring-deflecting wedges and provided with bearing termirnals, and a casing in sliding engagement in side engagement with the deflecting Wedges and provided with drawbar connecting portions.-

15. In combination with car framing having limiting stops, a pair of resistance shoes engaging said stops and provided withinvvardly disposed wedges, a lpair of springdliecting wedges in-engagement therewith having inner opposed curved faces, a series of leaf springs between said faces, a casing embracing said parts in sliding frictional engagement with the resistance shoes and in end engagement with the spring-deflecting wedges, and a drawbar connected with the casing.

16. In combinationwith car framing having limiting stops, a pair of resistance shoes engaging said stops and provided with' inwardly disposed wedges, a pair of springdeecting wedges in engagement therewith .having inner opposed curved faces and terminal cross pins, a series of leaf springs between said faces alternately connected with s'aid pins, and a casing embracing said parts in sliding frictional `engagement with the resistance shoes and in end engagement with the spring deflecting wedges, and a drawbar connected with the casing.

17. In combination with car framing having limiting stops, a pair of resistance shoes engagingsaid stops and provided with inwardly disposed wedges and outer frictional grooves, a pair of spring-deflecting wedges in engagement therewith having inner co-acting projections and recesses, a series of leaf springs between said faces, and

' a casing embracing said parts vhaving grooved sides in sliding frictional engagement with the sides pf the resistance shoes and in end engagement with the spring-deiecting wedges,- and a drawbar connected with the casing.

18. In combination with an outer pair of resistance shoes having abutting terminals and inwardly disposed wedges, an inner pair of spring-deflected wedges, and a series of interposed leaf springs; a two-part casing having means for attachment to a drawbar, inwardly disposed sides embracing the resistance shoes, end abutments engaging the spring deflecting wedges, and means connecting theparts of the casing.

19. A casing or frame for a draft gear of the class described consisting of an upper and a lower portion each `having inwardly turned side portions, vinwardly disposedv end abutment portions, longitudinal securing portions for a drawbar, and securing bolt holes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

J OHN F. COURSON. 

